West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-09-02
HARPER's FERRY LETTER.
HARpER's FERRY, August 20.

Mr.. EDITOR.-"Enougn is as gOoo
as feast" rs the old saying is, and
as there can be too much Of even q
good thing, we have refrained fol
some time from referring TO the new
enterprise at this place because this
subject formed the principal burden
of so many of our former commune
cations. and we are as much opposed
to monotony as you are to monopoly
The work progresses nevertheless
and fiourishes without the aid OF oul
favorable notice, and we suspect that
it would do so if we were gathered
to our fathers. The Shenandoah is
now damned across its whole width
and the massive head-gate complet'
ed, leaving little to be done but the
erection of the mill which, it is
thought, will be in full operation
long before the sun reaches Capri
cornus. We do not pretend to under
stand much about such operations,
but we hear from competent judges
and we believe that Mr.. Quigley, the
engineer in charge, has achieved
quite triumph.
The Right Reverend j. J. Keane
Catholic Bishop of Richmond, Va,
arrived at this place on Saturday,
and on Sunday he preached an elo-
quent sermon TO a large audience.
Bishop Keane is one of the most ac-
complished men of the day, and the
opinion entertained of his ability
and learning is so great that it is
understood he will be removed from
the charge of this diocese to super
intend the new Catholic University
to be located at Washington, ID. {.
This learned prelate has Travelled
extensively and to very good pur-
pose. for he has studied closely the
manners and habits of the various
nations among whom he has So
iourned, and the wide and varied
knowledge acquired in his very eN'
tensive reading has been enlarged
and strengthened by his intelligent
observation. We once rode in his
company on the railroad from Mar
tinsburg to Sir Johns Run, and in
less than an hour learned more than
we ever did before or since by a
months study.
We have now at this place two
Observation-Disclosures OF the
/ Methodist Episcopal Church and the
other of the Presbyterian. They
are Rev. G.. II. and Frank L. McFa-
den, sons of an honored minister OF
religion now deceased. They are on
a visit to their widowed mother who
resides in our immediate neighbor-
hood. These gentlemen were our
pupils in past years, and we count
them among the many promising
Young men in whom we take pride,
U =
inasmuch as we helped to lay the
foundation of their usefulness. The
older of the brothers-George Harry
is in charge Of two congregations
near Norfolk, Va, and the younger
Frank lis about completing his
course at Hampden- Sidney College.
The latter has just returned from
Louisville, Kentucky, to which place
he received call to preach during
his vacation. and the impression he
made there may be gathered from
the fact that his congregation, at 4
meeting called for the purpose, voted
him, in addition to his salary, fine
gold watch, handsome travelling
satchel and his railroad expenses
while on his return home on the eX-
piration of his term. Once before
in letter we took occasion to re
mark with pride on the great mum
Der of Young men we have launched
successfully into life. The fruits of
our labors are seen in all the learned
professions and in other walks
equally useful if not quite so preten-
tious, but as might be expected from
the dogmatic turn manifested in
these letters we shine with especial
lustre in Theology. There are two
or three Jewish Rabbits and more
Christian ministers scattered
through all the denominations than
could be counted on the fingers of
Briareus, the hundred handed, who
confess their obligation to our teach
lngs. They differ widely among
themselves on many subjects, but
there is one thing on which they
agree unanimously-indeed they re
gard it as an axiom-that the old
man is all right anyhow, and with
this assurance we are in good heart
as any readerswho condescends to
notice our humble efforts can plainly
see.
We regret to record painful ac-
cident to Master Il. Beale Miskimon,
son of the Rev. ii. +. Miskimon-a
much beloved minister of religion
now deceased-and grandson of Mr..
T. w. Beale of this place While
returning, one day last week, from a
cunning expedition, he noticed an
approaching showerand took refuge
from it in the store of Mr.. Hill near
the College. BY some means the
gun slipped from his hand and, the
hammer striking heavily against